NJ Today: Central Jersey Daily Rundown, Monday, April 16

What's happening and what you need to know in Central Jersey.
STAFF VIDEO BY JOE MARTINO

Safety Around Water Week, June 25 to June 28, is designed to offer children who are non-swimmers the opportunity to learn to swim, become more safety conscious, and prevent accidents around water environments.(Photo11: ~Courtesy of YMCA of Western Monmouth County)

Safety Around Water Week

Since opening in 2009, each year the Old Bridge Y has offered Safety Around Water Week (S.A.W.), formerly known as Learn To Swim Week. S.A.W., June 25 through June 28, is designed to offer children who are non swimmers the opportunity to learn to swim, become more safety conscious, and prevent accidents around water environments. S.A.W. is a community outreach effort only open to non-member children for $20 for the week. Children age 3 to 13 receive one 40-minute lesson each day, Monday through Thursday, from June 25 to 28, with Friday, June 29, reserved for make-up lessons. Registration is required and begins Monday, April 16, at 8 a.m. Register at the Old Bridge Y, 1 Mannino Park Drive. Contact Bridgid at 732-727-0704, ext. 315, or brothenberg@ymcanj.org.

No water in part of Perth Amboy

Due to maintenance repairs, there will be no water Tuesday, April 17, from approximately 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Bertrand Avenue between Smith and Market streets in Perth Amboy. Note that upon reactivation of the line, you may experience a slight rust color and/or air bubbles in your water. This is normal and should dissipate quickly. If the problem persists, call 732-826-5335 until 4:30 p.m. After 4:30, call the Runyon Water Treatment Plant at 732-721-3664.

USDA to assist agricultural producers

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will issue $34 million to help agricultural producers recover from 2017 natural disasters through the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-raised Fish Program (ELAP), which covers losses not covered by certain other USDA disaster assistance programs. These payments are part of a broader USDA effort to help producers recover from hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria, wildfires and drought. Visit www.usda.gov.

New SCLSNJ Director of Public Services Chris Korenowsky brings more than three decades of library expertise and excellence to Somerset County residents.(Photo11: ~Courtesy of Somerset County Library System of NJ)

New SCLSNJ director of public services

Christopher “Chris” Korenowsky will join the Somerset County Library System of New Jersey as their newest public services director beginning Monday, April 16. Korenowsky, a graduate of Kent State University with a Master of Information Management and Library Sciences and Ohio State University with a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature, will replace W. Keith McCoy, who is retiring after more than 40 years of library service. Korenowsky can be contacted at ckorenowsky@sclibnj.org. For additional info about the library, visit SCLSNJ.org.

Candidates sought for board vacancy

The Plainfield Board of Education is searching for qualified candidates to fill a vacancy on their board. School board members must be registered voters who have lived in the district for at least a year, must be able to read and write, and cannot hold a contract with or claim against the school district. To be considered, send a resume and letter of interest to Yolanda Koon, 1200 Myrtle Ave., Plainfield, NJ 07060 or ykoon@plainfield.k12.nj.us by Tuesday, April 24.

Alicia Flynn Cotter(Photo11: ~Courtesy of County of Union)

Paintings by Cotter at gallery

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is presenting an exhibit of paintings by Alicia Flynn Cotter of Mountainside in the gallery space at the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs, 633 Pearl St., Elizabeth. A selection of her work, titled “Spring Awakens,” is on display at the Pearl Street Gallery until Friday, June 8. The gallery is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays. Union County artists interested in exhibiting in the gallery space are welcome to apply. Artists’ works must be able to be hung on a wall. Contact the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs at culturalinfo@ucnj.org or call 908-558-2550.

PBF Second Cycle Major Grants

The Provident Bank Foundation (PBF) is now accepting Letters of Intent (LOI) for its Second Cycle of Major Grants. Major Grants range from $5,000 to $25,000, and fund projects and programs that address one or more of PBF’s funding priority areas.
For more info about PBF, including 2018 grant guidelines, visit www.theprovidentbankfoundation.org or call 862-260-3990.

Raritan Valley Habitat Youth Rainbow Run will take place on April 22.(Photo11: ~Courtesy of Raritan Valley Habitat Youth)

Raritan Valley Habitat Youth to host Rainbow Run

With the advent of nice weather comes outdoor activities and the Raritan Valley Habitat Youth, a group of civic-minded local high schools students, are looking for supporters as they host the 2nd annual Rainbow Run 5K on Sunday, April 22 from 9 a.m. to noon at White Oak Park in Branchburg. The Rainbow Run is a 5K walk or run through non-toxic, colored powder at stations throughout the course. It will be all smiles for 3.1 miles with lots of color coming your way! To register or donate to the event, visit runsignup.com/habitatrainbowrun. The Rainbow Run donation is $30 per person; children ages 4-12 are $15, children ages 3 and under are free. Registration the day of the event will begin at 8 A.M. Funds raised will benefit Raritan Valley Habitat for Humanity and will help give families a safe, affordable and stable home.

Appreciation Day at St. John's

On Thursday, April 26, St. John’s Episcopal Church, 158 W. High St., Somerville, will host Appreciation Day to recognize, honor and thank all community and first responders, including the Somerville Police Department, Somerville Fire Department, Somerville First Aid Squad, EMT, Somerset County Sheriff’s Office and other law enforcement and community volunteers. Appreciation Day will begin at 5 p.m. at St. John’s with an interfaith service of prayer with invited guests from the Somerset County Chosen Freeholders, Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office, Sheriff’s Office, Somerset Pipe & Drums, Honor & Color Guard, Somerville mayor and council, and area religious leaders. A free dinner, catered by area restaurants, will be after the service in the parish hall. Call 908-722-1250 or visit www.StJohnSomerville.org.

Networking Night set in Somerville

The Somerset County Business Partnership members and non-member business people will gather on Wednesday, April 18, at Savor Restaurant, 18 W. Main St. in Somerville, for a networking event that will combine food with very networking opportunities. The event is scheduled for 5 to 7 p.m. “Networking Nights,” attract 100 or more business people seeking to make new contacts for goods and services that will help grow their business and enhance profitability. The event aims to provide the opportunity to increase visibility, establish new connections, discover new products and services, and enjoy meeting friends old and new. Savor Restaurant appeals to the adventurous with small servings that invite experimentation and traditional offerings to appeal to all diners.Pre-registration admission is $10 for Business Partnership members and $50 for non-members.To register, call the Business Partnership at 908-218-4300, or register online http://bit.ly/4-18savor.

Nomination deadline extended

Somerset County Freeholder Deputy Director Brian D. Levine has announced that the deadline to nominate someone for the Profiles of Positive Aging recognition has been extended until Thursday, April 26. The county Office on Aging and Disability Services wants to recognize residents age 60 and above who bring inspiration and continuity to the fabric of our communities by demonstrating how to live longer, healthier and engaged lives. Nominations can come from any source, including friend, self or organization. To obtain a nomination form, visit http://bit.ly/PositiveAging2018 or call 908-704-6346. Selected honorees will be recognized by the Somerset County Board of Chosen Freeholders on Tuesday, May 8, at the Somerset County Administration Building, 20 Grove St., Somerville.

Armstrong at RVCC commencement

The Honorable Paul W. Armstrong (Ret.), a nationally recognized pioneer of patients’ rights, will deliver the commencement address at Raritan Valley Community College’s annual spring commencement at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 12. Armstrong will receive an honorary degree during the ceremony, which will be on the soccer field at the college’s Branchburg campus. Among his many well-known cases, Armstrong presided over the case of State of New Jersey v. Charles Cullen, the convicted nurse serial killer. Raritan Valley Community College’s main campus is at 118 Lamington Road, Branchburg. Visit www.raritanval.edu.

Building a home and hope

Braving the cold temperature on April 7, several local women raised funds, awareness and hope for a brighter future as they worked on a Raritan Valley Habitat for Humanity (RVHFH) home in Franklin. The group reunited to celebrate the Bachelorette Build they participated in over nine years ago in honor of Lisa Craig, an RVHFH volunteer. The group raised more than $1,700 to support the building of strength, stability and self-reliance through shelter and spent the day installing sheet rock in the home of future RVHFH partner homeowner Tania-Sue Thomas. For those interested in participating in an event like this, Raritan Valley Habitat for Humanity will be hosting a fundraiser Women Build on Saturday, May 5, in conjunction with Habitat for Humanity International’s annual Women Build Week. There are still limited spots available on www.rvhabitat.org.

Jazz pianist and former Westfield High School student Gil Scott Chapman performs for Westfield High School students and staff March 29 as part of a Black History Month program organized by the high school’s Diversity Awareness Committee.(Photo11: ~Courtesy of Westfield Public Schools)

Chapman performs at high school

Westfield High School recently welcomed back one of its own as part of a Black History Month program titled “A Flash of Jazz” on March 29. Gil Scott Chapman, a world-renowned, classically trained jazz pianist, graduated from Westfield High School in 2007. Chapman played several piano pieces. Visit whs.westfieldnjk12.org/pages/Westfield_High_School.